Mom, I Need More Exercise Please

Alex will be 11 years old in May 5 of this year. I’ve had her since she was 2 1/2 months and even though she is a senior, my girl still has a lot of energy.

Alex

When she has a lot of energy she runs around me over and over again until I am almost dizzy. She runs so fast that I still cannot believe my girl is a senior.

Now, if we are at home, she likes to run the entire third level, back and forth until she is completely exhausted and her tongue is hanging out. With that being said, as a pet parent you should look for cues your dog is giving you regarding her energy level. Some pet parents, me included, sometimes miss the following signs:

Running back and forth inside the house. This screams, “please walk me more.”

Chewing things such as: socks, shoes, linoleum. My first dog, Casey, chewed off the linoleum in the first apartment I rented when I moved to Maryland. He took it upon himself to redecorate without consulting me or asking permission from the landlord.

Pacing around the house. Actually, this is more of a nervous sign but it can be caused by lack of exercise.

Chewing on her paws. Check with your vet first because it could also be allergies.

After she ran for a couple of minutes, she decided to sniff around trying to find who knows what. I let her do this for a while and then we started to walk again.

Ok. I said walk, not continue sniffing. Regardless of your dog’s age, do your best to pay attention to the signs she is giving you regarding her energy level so you can avoid getting your place redecorated or having to run to the vet.